PLSQL Guy writes “Tests of the Windows 7 Release Candidate in a PC World Test Center found that while Windows 7 was slightly faster on our WorldBench 6 suite, the differences may be barely noticeable to users. The PCs tested were slightly faster when running Windows 7, but in no case was the overall improvement greater than 5 percent, considered to be a threshold for when an actual performance change is noticeable to the average user. One of the major complaints about Windows Vista was the fact that it was consistently slower than Windows XP. If Windows 7 can’t significantly improve that situation, what chance does it have to convince people to move away from Windows XP?”

There is nothing wrong with XP (cough) but I do like trying new shiny things and Windows 7 defiantly seems to be one of them. I could never run windows Vista on my PC because of the totally awesome ” Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding, but has successfully recovered.” error. Thanks Microsoft / Nvidia – your cool!

The wait is over folks, Microsoft has published the download page for the Windows 7 RC. As we noted earlier, the download was scheduled to launch tomorrow and was to be available worldwide. Coming straight from the download page, here are Microsoft’s notes for the release candidate

davidmwilliams sends in his IT Wire review of how Windows 7RC1 performs on an Acer Aspire One netbook. Summing up: it runs, it won’t win any speed competitions, you won’t want to play Crysis on it, and it’s pretty OK for light-duty, everyday tasks. In related news, several readers have noted that Windows 7 RC1 is now available; one anonymous reader notes “This time, Microsoft was smart not to limit the time that it’s available or the number of keys. It will be up for download until July, so there’s lots of time to grab a copy.”

CWmike writes “Microsoft will not dump Vista when Windows 7 launches, and plans to keep selling it to computer makers, system builders, volume licensees and consumers at retail until at least January 2011, a Microsoft spokesman said, citing long-running policy. Earlier today, a Microsoft general manager hinted that the company might ditch Vista as soon as Windows 7 ships. He also said that support for all versions of Vista will end in April 2012. Neither is true, according to the company. Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, said, ‘to try to stop Vista or make it unavailable, that would just draw attention… The truth is, few people will be likely to order it once Windows 7 is available.'”

Slatterz writes “Acer’s UK managing director has revealed the day that Windows 7 systems are expected to begin shipping. Bobby Watkins said that Acer will start offering systems sporting the new Microsoft operating system on 23 October, confirming earlier reports that Windows 7 would ship ahead of Microsoft’s original target of early 2010.”

Sockatume writes “Yesterday, two Acer executives in Europe separately let slip details that give us a good date for the release of Windows 7. First, Acer’s vice-president for Europe discussed a new product, launching this September, that will support Windows 7’s touch features. Asked whether this confirmed the Windows 7 release date as September 2009, he coyly remarked that ‘when it’s in store it won’t have Windows 7 pre-loaded.’ Microsoft would probably prefer that he had stopped there, but he added: ‘We won’t be actually selling [Windows 7] a day before the 23rd October.’ Then, Acer’s Managing Director for the UK helpfully clarified that while their product will ship with Windows Vista at launch, because it is on sale less than 30 days before the Windows 7 release date, it will be eligible for the ‘upgrade program’ to get a free upgrade to the new OS.”

CWmike writes “Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) and TechNet paid subscribers were supposed to find the 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows 7 RC available for download today. But in a snafu reminiscent of the problems Microsoft had in January when it tried to launch Windows 7 Beta, the download pages for the release candidate were inaccessible, despite numerous attempts over an hour-long span up until about noon Eastern. TechNet and MSDN subscribers were not happy. ‘Man, this stinks,’ said a user identified as Lyle Pratt, on a TechNet message forum at 10 a.m. ET. ‘I can’t believe we can still bring MSDN to its knees!’ said John Butler, a Microsoft partner. ‘Surely, they should be able to deal with this? Not a good advert for Microsoft.’ The Windows 7 RC is slated to be available for public download next Tuesday, May 5. Meanwhile, Microsoft said today that the RC would operate until June 2010, for 13 months of free use — a significantly longer time than it did with Vista’s previews.”